CRYSTAL PALACE 2-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Team Murphy, Hussey, Christie, Keogh, Cranie, Bigirimana, Clingan, Thomas, McSheffrey (Ruffles 17), Jutkiewicz, O'Donovan. Subs Dunn, McPake, Cameron, Jeffers.
Palace Speroni, Ramage, McCarthy, Tunchev, McGiven (Williams 67), Dikagcoi (Zaha 39), Garvan, Wright (Jedinck 59), Parr, Easter, Scannell. SNU Price, Andrew
HT CPFC 0-0 CCFC FT CPFC 2-1 CCFC ATT 12,330 Goals Lukas Jutkiewicz (47), Referee P.Miller Booked Bigirimana, Christie, Scannell, Jedinck
Man Of The Match Richard Keogh took the votes ahead of Sammy Clingan.
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Coventry City agonisingly went down to a last gasp defeat at Selhurst Park.
With David Bell out for four weeks, Conor Thomas came in to a midfield that had Sammy Clingan recovering from a knock picked up during the defeat at Birmingham.
Roared on by a City support that included a trio who had popped into SISU's office for a polite chat which took place with the company who want, according to reports, to keep hold of the club; others on the one official coach had a three riot van police escort to the ground plus a good number of supporters from the capital, Brighton, Kent, and the Home Counties, City took to the field in their sky blue kit.
The support which pretty much filled the one block allocated to them, saw a pleasing first half performance from City who defended well when required.
We were not surprisingly denied a penalty in the 14th minute when Roy O'Donovan was tackled from behind in the area by referee Mr Miller, whose performance last season in the corresponding fixture had the City supporters thinking that they would be up against twelve men on this occasion.
City got little from the Bedfordshire official in a game which saw Gary McSheffrey forced off in the 17th minute and Josh Ruffles coming on for his debut in an un-natural position on the left as the City fans sung "We're by far the youngest team the world, has ever seen."
'City Youth' as they were now being called, worked hard. Richard Keogh won every header at the back, Clingan battled admirably in midfeld, Ruffles, Christie and Bigirimana worked their socks off and Hussey was immense.
In the 40th minute, most of the 12,330 crowd thought Palace had taken the lead when a free kick was bundled in the net. However, it was clear from our vantage point in the Arthur Wait stand that Murphy had been obstructed and the goal was ruled out.
The City fans were happy going in at 0-0 but two minutes into the second half, refreshments were going everywhere as the Sky Blues scored their first goal of the Championship season.
Cyrus Christie got down the right and sent over a long cross, which went towards the bar, Speroni mis-judged it and in the scramble that ensued, LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ ensured the ball was in the net and that City were ahead.
Keogh made some great blocks as Palace won three corners in close succession.
Apart from one corner, Palace, attacking the end where their ultras were, forced Murphy in a save on the hour mark and a minute later, Bigirimana who also ran himself into the ground, cleared off the line.
Roy O'Donovan fired over from 22 yards before Clingan's free kick from a central 78th minute position saw Speroni dive to his right to save.
In the 80th minute, Lukas Jutkiewicz had a great chance to seal the win for City when he was sent through for a one on one with Speroni. The former Everton player had time to work out his options but opted to shoot and saw his effort blocked by the Palace keeper's legs.
Three minutes he was through again but saw his side deflected into the side netting for a corner.
"Hang on for the win" was what the City support was praying for but as we reached stoppage time, any hopes of three points ended when the ball bounced around the penalty area and was not dealt with by a City defence who let in SEAN SCANNELL who banged the ball home from inside the area.
A minimum of four minutes of stoppage time were added on and we had got to the end of this, when a cross from the left was fumbled by Joe Murphy, who admitted that Selhurst Park is not one of his luckiest grounds, and he pushed a cross from the left into the path of JERMAINE EASTER who tapped in to condemn the Sky Blues ro a defeat they didn't deserve.